Some things become conspicuous by their absence.  I remember the late George Carlin and his famous question, “Who stole the blue food?”  Gets you thinking, doesn’t it?  What about the blue food?  Ever since I heard that question I’ve been looking for it – and you know what?  I can’t find the blue food either.

Raising a question can open your eyes and help you see what you’ve been missing, or as in this case, miss what you haven’t been seeing.

Lately I’ve been wondering, “Where has all the doctrine gone?”  I’m not thinking of a particular doctrine like original sin, or justification by faith – although I’d like to know where they’ve gone too.  I’m thinking of doctrine in the largest sense, doctrine itself.  Where is it?  

When I go to church I get pep-talks, and lots of inspiring advice on how to be happy, or how to raise my kids, or how I can improve my self-esteem.  I get lots of role models – people like Daniel or Abraham or even Jesus – who lived deeply satisfying lives that I can lead too if I will only follow three or five or ten simple principles.  But I don’t get doctrine.

I’ve tried Christian bookstores.  You’d think they’d have some books on doctrine.  Nope.  There’s lot’s of self-help, and “can you beat this?” testimonies, and something called Christian fiction – that’s an interesting juxtaposition of words.  It reminds me of George Carlin’s perplexity over “jumbo-shrimp.”  (Isn’t there something a little bit oxymoronic about the term Christian fiction?)  Anyway, I looked up the top 10 best selling Christian books.  What did I find? one devotional book and one bible study that might be generously classified as “doctrine light”.  The rest of it?  Yep.  Christian fiction, self-help psycho-babble, and “can you beat this” testimonies – either: I’m famous and you’re not but I’ve got problems too, so let me inspire you; or, I was really evil, praise the Lord! but I’m not anymore, but deep down you wish you could done all the stuff I did, so let me tell you about it!; or, I was dead, but now I’m not, let me tell you what I saw!”

I’m a published writer.  I’ve got friends in high places in the world of Christian publishing.  And you want to know something?  Doctrine doesn’t sell.  You want to know something else?  Most of the big-time Christian publishing going on today isn’t interested in doctrine for that reason.  There’s no money in it. 

I’m also a pastor.  I’ve pastored growing churches for 20 years.  I’ve got friends in mega-churches around America.  You know what I hear again and again?  People don’t care about doctrine.  If you want your church to grow you need a few things – a good location, an excellent nursery, a hoppin’ music team, and preaching that sounds like Dr. Phil, because people want to feel good; and that’s what we’re about right? – helping people feel good.

But I keep thinking about the whole doctrine thing. 

I’ve begun to wonder.  Could it be we’re not supposed to give people what they want?  Could it be that we’re supposed to give people what God wants to give them?  Could it be that that even though people don’t care about doctrine, God does?

Doctrine is inescapable, you know.  Just when you think you’ve gotten away from it, you’ve advocating it.  Doctrine can not only be classified as either good or bad; it can also be classified as explicit and implicit.  Explicit doctrine is honest doctrine.  It’s right out on the table for all to see.  It identifies itself as doctrine.  Implicit doctrine, on the other hand, is sneaky doctrine.  It hides beneath the surface of the things we say and do.  The reason it’s not honest is because it won’t bear up under scrutiny.  Shine the light on it and it withers away. 

We’re not getting away from doctrine – we’re just exchanging honest doctrine for sneaky doctrine.  As I look at those things that churches do and the books that Christians are reading, here are some doctrines that I see being taught: what I feel is more important than what God feels, being happy is more important than making God happy,  using God to get what I want is more important than God using me to get what he wants.  God needs celebrities and spectacular experiences as endorsements; we need to cater to the self-centered and narcissistic excesses of our world to be successful; God’s Word doesn’t count for as much as the latest market research – I could go on, but you get my drift.        

The Apostle Paul told Timothy to watch his life and doctrine closely because, Paul says, “by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers,” 1 Timothy 4:16.  Interesting; not a word about nurseries and a kicking music team.  Getting the doctrine right was so important to Paul he latter says to Timothy, “Teach and urge these things.  If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up and conceited and understands nothing.” 1 Timothy 6:2b-4a.

Come on, Paul, lighten up!  Don’t be such a grumpy Gus!  If you want a big church and make the top of the Christian best-seller list you need to work on your smile.